Startup Growth Story ft. Naagin Sauce - Home of Original Indian Hot Sauce

Naagin Sauce brings you the first truly Indian hot sauce, made for Indian taste buds, with a curated blend of high-quality, ethically sauced ingredients.

We were joined by Mikhel Rajani, Co-Founder, Naagin Sauce for the Startup Growth Panel focused on Rising Direct-To-Consumer (DTC) brands in India.

Mikhel Rajani is a Co-Founder at Naagin Sauce, India's first hot sauce brand, he has a decade-long experience in the F&B industry including stints in Hong Kong & Italy.

He opened his first restaurant in 2012 – Francesco’s Pizzeria – now one of Mumbai’s iconic gourmet pizza chains and has a national record for delivering the world's first pizza by drone. 

You can watch the fun Startup Growth Panel with Mikhel and other founders of awesome Rising DTC Brands in India - Suraj Vazirani (The Beauty Co.), Vinay Kothari (GO DESi) and Nilisha Ferrao (Narla).

https://youtu.be/GdGZjfZPWnc

It was a super fun chat where we discussed their founding stories, early days, what worked for them, technology stack, key learnings, building brands, and advice for early-stage founders. 

Startup Stream

The eChai Effect - In Their Words

“I have no hesitation in saying that my association with eChai has been a gateway into the startup ecosystem. Through this platform, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with many young and dynamic entrepreneurs. These interactions have been immensely enriching - I’ve learned a great deal and have always tried to offer guidance whenever approached. It’s a truly symbiotic relationship that I deeply value, and it wouldn’t have been possible without eChai.”
Syed Nadeem Jafri - Founder, Hearty Mart
Syed Nadeem Jafri
Founder, Hearty Mart
"The eChai platform has been super valuable for me - it has helped me gain a deeper understanding of domains in the startup and tech ecosystem. What stands out most is the celebration of knowledge, professional growth, and entrepreneurship - it’s one of the best for the Indian ecosystem. Along the way, I’ve also been fortunate to make some great friendships and connections too."
Shalin (Shawn) Parikh - Founder, MyCPE One
Shalin (Shawn) Parikh
Founder, MyCPE One
"At DevX.Work, we’ve greatly benefited from our association with eChai. Their events and networking forums have connected us with high-potential startups, ecosystem leaders, and innovation-driven professionals — many of whom have become valuable partners, collaborators, and even clients. What stands out most is the openness and accessibility of the community — whether you're an early-stage founder or an experienced entrepreneur, eChai provides a welcoming space to learn, collaborate, and grow. It's more than just a network — it's a catalyst for real, collaborative growth. We’re proud to be part of the eChai community. Highly recommended for any organization aiming to grow within the startup space."
Umesh Uttamchandani - Co-Founder, DevX
Umesh Uttamchandani
Co-Founder, DevX

eChai Partner Brands

eChai Ventures partners with select brands as their growth partner - working together to explore new ideas, open doors, and build momentum across the startup ecosystem.